Rathsmill



Jan. 21, 1964 E. RATHSMILL 3,113,231

DENTAL MIRROR Filed Nov. 10, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. EMANUEL RATHSMILL AT TORN EYS Jan. 21, 1964 E. RATHSMILL 3,118,231

DENTAL MIRROR Filed Nov. 10, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 61 IN NTOR ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,118,231 DENTAL MIRRQR Emanuel Rathsmill, 935 E. lv/ieunt Pleasant Ave., Philadelphia, Pa. Filed Nov. ll), 19%, Ser. No. 68,36 16 Claims. (Cl. 32-69) This invention relates to a dental mouth mirror construction.

In the past few years there has come into Widespread use high-speed handpieces in which the but or diamond cutting tool rotates at from 25,000 to 250,000 rpm. This necessitates the concomitant use of a constant spray of air and water at the operating locus to prevent destructive heating of the tooth. This spray on striking the tooth surface rebounds, carrying with it a mixture of comminuted tooth substance, decay products and bacteria which coats the mirror with an opaque, adherent film and constitutes a health hazard to the dentist and patient breathing it. The latest and increasingly popular handpieces, operating at the highest speeds, are the air-driven turbines which require the addition of vegetable oil to the air supply to lubricate the turbine bearings. This addition to the water and air spray ejected onto the tooth makes the film on the mirror more adherent.

The problem of disposing of the mist, liquid and debris has brought into use various special suction devices which are much like ordinary household vacuum cleaners. Instead of the familiar 1%" I.D. attachment hose, these dental vacuum units use a flexible rubber or plastic hose about ID.

This high volume air intake is applied to the mouth by a rigid metal or plastic tube fitted into the hose and held by the dentists assistant, as the dentist operates. A variation of this is a hooked rigid tube, the end of which is placed in the floor of the patients mouth and hangs from the lower jaw like the old famfliar small caliber saliva ejector. There are several other variations of these lower jaw supported applicators which can do little more than an efflcient saliva ejector.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a device which combines a dental mirror with an applicator of high air volume suction. The suction is applied at the mirror surface Where it is most effective and being in the dentists hand is in his complete control.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a means to cleanse and clear the mirror as it is being used without the need of the dentist removing it from the mouth to clean it every few seconds, which is distracting and time consuming. The l ansing is effected by a con trolled, intermittent flushing of the mirror with a suitable detergent solution or spray which is conducted as a fan shaped stream to the forward edge of the mirror surface, traverses that surface and is carried away by the high volume air stream entering the large aperture in the tube which is also the mirror handle.

These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent as the following description proceeds in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through the device with a schematic illustration of a pump and control means for operating the cleaning fluid delivery;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the device;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a side view of another embodiment of my invention;

FIGURE 5 is an end view looking toward the right in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is an end view looking toward the left in FIGURE 4;

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FIGURE 7 is a plan view of the right end portion of the device shown in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged longitudinal section of another embodiment of my invention showing a mirror held in place by a single spring clip;

FIGURE 9 is a View similar to FIGURE 8 of another embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 10 is a section on the line 1ll-1ll of FI URE 9;

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary view partly in section of an end of another embodiment of my invention, this View showing a modified spring clip and indicating the mirror by a dot-and-dash line;

FIGURE 12 is a diagrammatic view illustrating an alternative means for supplying detergent according to the invention; and

FIGURE 13 is a View similar to FIGURE 12 of yet another detergent supply means.

Specific reference is now made to the drawings wherein like reference characters are used for like elements throughout.

While any suitable materials may be used to fabricate the device, at present it is preferable that the materials employed be those which are mentioned hereinafter.

The device is generally indicated at 19 and includes an elongated stainless steel tube 12 of substantially circular cross-section with an inner diameter of about /8". The rear end 14 of the tube is attached to a flexible hose 16 which is in turn operatively connected to a suction or vacuum source 18.

The forward end of the tube includes an angulated extension 2% which has an upper, cut-out, substantially flat ledge portion 22 upon which is permanently or removably mounted a preferably circular frame 24 carrying a mirror 26. The forward end of the tube is provided with a rearwardly inclined orifice 28 which opens on the rear portion of the mirror.

A further tube or conduit 39, brass or stainless steel, is positioned lengthwise in the tube 12 and extends through the angulated extension 26. The conduit 30 is preferably circular in cross-section and of internal diameter of about to A". The rear end 32 or" the conduit is bent at an angle to the main axis of the conduit and extends outwardly through the larger tube 12, there to be secured by soldering or other equivalent means.

Suitably connected to the forward end of the conduit 30 is a nozzle member 34 which may either be integral with the conduit or a separate unit secured on the end of the conduit. As will be evident from the drawing, the nozzle bends around the edge of the mirror 26 and terminates in a flared orifice 36 which is closely adjacent to and opens over the forward end of the mirror opposite the tube orifice 28.

The width of the nozzle is less than the width of the angulated extension 20 of the tube 12 with the result that the end of the extension 20 has a pair of orifices 38 on both sides of the nozzle which are disposed beneath the mirror frame 24 and are communicative with the larger tube 12.

The rear end portion 32 of the conduit or inner tube 30 is adapted for connection to a hose 40 which is operatively connected to a pump P which is in turn operatively connected to a detergent or cleaning fluid container or reservoir R. The pump is driven by a motor M which is actuated by a foot-operated switch S. The conduit 30 may also be connected to a flexible bulb containing the cleaning fluid or to a fluid container whereby the fluid from the container may be delivered to the conduit by a hand actuated air valve.

In use, the dentist inserts the mirror end of the device in the month while he operates in the conventional manner. The suction through the tube orifice 28 constantly draws into the tube the spray of air, water, oil and debris at the most effective point, namely the locus of the grinding. Suction through the side orifices 38 prevents the tongue and cheek from being drawn into the tube orifice 28 and also serves as a means to evacuate accumulated liquid and saliva from the floor of the mouth. When the mirror becomes coated or clouded, the dentist presses the switch S by foot whereby the pump P sends a detergent fluid through the conduit 39 which emanates as a fan spray or stream over the mirror 26. The detergent fluid is sucked across the mirror into the larger tube 12 through the orifice 28 which is opposite the nozzle spray orifice 36. Fluid is delivered to the mirror intermittently as needed. When the fluid delivery is discontinued, the suction through the orifice 28 air dries the mirror. Thus the dentist can continue his grinding and always have suction and a clean mirror available without interruption at the locus of operation. Manual delivery of fluid to clean the mirror may be accomplished by pressing a bulb or an air valve as mentioned hereinbefore.

Attention is now directed to an important aspect of the invention. The embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGURES 1 to 3 includes means for supplying detergent to the mirror to enable the dentist to periodically or continuously clean the mirror by means of a flow of detergent thereover.

In some applications, such as work on the teeth of the lower jaw, for which Work it is not necessary for the dentist to observe his work in the mirror, it is not essential that there be a source of supply of detergent. The dentist will almost invariably hold a mirror implement in his left hand as he drills with his right hand, even when he is drilling the teeth of the lower jaw, because such a mirror implement is needed to hold the patients lips, check, or tongue away from the tooth being treated.

When a high-speed drill is used, it is quite important that the spray and the particles generated by the drilling operation be collected and removed from the patients mouth. This is of importance in minimizing infection due to the breathing of such matter by the patient or by the dentist.

FIGURES 4 to 7 of the drawings illustrate an embodiment of the invention particularly well suited for those applications, mentioned above, not involving the use of a detergent stream over the mirror, but still requiring the use of an implement for holding the patients lips, cheek, or tongue out of the way, and requiring high-volume suction.

The tubular handle member 4a includes a dished or semi-circular extension 41 disposed at an angle to the axis of the handle member. The mirror 42 is held in frame member 43. The mirror 42 and frame 43 are detachably mounted against the extension 41 with an edge of the mirror frame fitting into the notch 44- provided in the handle member. The aperture 45 in the handle member is adjacent the surface of the mirror and the aperture 46 in the handle member opens below the mirror. Spring clips 47 and 43 are secured to the extension 41, as by means of welds indicated at 49 and 50. The spring clips 47 and 48 extend up beyond the edge of the mirror and terminate in hooks 51 and 52 which hook over the edge of the mirror frame and urge it toward the notch 44. By means of the clips 47 and 4S and the notch 44 the mirror is detachably maintained in position on the handle member.

A source of high volume, high velocity suction is applied to the left end of the tubular member, as seen in FIGURE 4, and effects a rapid inflow of air and entrained liquid and solid particles through the apertures 45 and 46 and up the handle member. By means of the device shown in FIGURES 4 to 7, the dentist can drill while using the implement to hold back the patients lips, cheek or tongue, the implement at the same time performing the additional function of rapidly and effectively removing the generated spray from the region of the patients month.

In FIGURE 8 I have shown a modified device of the kind shown in FIGURES 4 to 7. In the arrangement of FIGURE 8 the handle member 4t? having the extension 41, mirror 42 and frame 43, all as described in FIGURES 4 to 7, includes a spring clip 53 secured, for instance by welding or soldering as at 54, inside the extension member 4-1. The spring clip 53 is angled upwardly and outwardly and terminates in a hook member 55 which holds the mirror in position.

The mirror can be released and removed in the devices of FIGURES 4- and 8 by manually prying the hook end of the spring clip off of the mirror frame member.

FIGURES 9 and 10 illustrate a modification of the kind of implement shown in FIGURES 1 to 3, that is, an implement including detergent supply means. In FIGURE 9 the tubular handle member 56 terminates in an extension 57 supporting mirror 58 and frame 59 therefor. A detergent supply tube 6%) is provided inside the handle member and terminates in a bell mouth 61 in the region behind the mirror. The mirror frame includes a backing member 62 having a bent nipple 63 extending therefrom. The nipple includes tubular portion 64 adapted to interfit with the belled mouth 61 of the detergent tube 69 when the mirror is assembled on the handle member. By properly proportioning the tubular member 64 and the end of the detergent tube 6%, it is possible to provide a tight friction fit which will detachably secure the mirror in proper position. The nipple member 63 provides access for the flow of detergent behind the mirror 53 within the back member 62.

The mirror 58 is circular in plan, as is the frame member 59. However, the frame member 59 is of a size slightly larger than that of the mirror and the mirror 58 is mounted toward one edge of the frame (the lower edge as seen in FIGURE 9), so as to provide a small, crescent shaped crack 65 between the upper edge of the mirror and the frame, through which crack the detergent can flow onto the surface of the mirror. The cement 66, which underlies the lower half of the mirror, secures the mirror to the frame and backing member without occluding flow of detergent.

In FIGURE 11 I have shown a device similar to that of FIGURES 9 and 10 but utilizing a modified structure for retaining the mirror in place. Instead of relying on the friction fit between the tubular member 64 and 69, the device includes a spring clip member 67 having prongs 68 and 69 which fit tightly along opposite sides of the tubular member 64). The front end of the clip 67 terminates in a hook member 7% adapted to fit over the edge of the mirror frame in a manner generally similar to that of the hook shown in FIGURE 8.

From the construction of FIGURE 11, the mirror may be removed, either by springing :hook 7 0 off of the edge of the mirror or by axially sliding prongs 68 and 69 out of contact with the tubular member 60.

FIGURE 12 illustrates diagrammatically a detergent supply setup according to the invention. A dentists operatory ordinarily includes a supply of warm water, such as is indicated at 71. The warm water is interconnected with a control valve 72 by means of the tubing 73. The control valve 72 is controlled by a switch 74 which may conveniently be operated by the dentists foot.

When the switch 74 is actuated so as to open the valve and permit warm water to flow therethrough, warm water is delivered to the tube 75, having a Venturi restriction indicated at 76, associated with a detergent reservoir 77 and supply pipe 78. The tube is interconnected by a piece of tubing 79 with the nipple 8%) of an implement according to my invention, such implement generally having a tubular handle member 81, mirror 82 and aperture 83 exposing the surface of the mirror to high volume suction applied to the handle member 81 via the tubing 34.

In the arrangement of FIGURE 12 operation of foot switch 74 opens valve 72 and permits warm water to flow, as is indicated by the arrows 85 and 86, from the source of warm water 71 to the Venturi device 76. The flow of water through the Venturi restriction 76 causes detergent to flow up from the reservior 77 through the pipe 78 and into the water stream in the neck 76. Thereafter the mixture of water and detergent flows, as indicated by the arrow 87, through the tube 79, the nipple 8i) and thus across the surface of mirror 82, through aperture 83 and upwardly out of the handle member 31.

In the arrangement of FIGURE 12 the container 77 contains a concentrated detergent solution. By use of such a concentrated solution, the mixture with water in the Venturi 76 will result in a dilute solution appropriate for cleaning the mirror.

FIGURE 13 shows a modified detergent supply arrangement having particular advantages. The dental implement generally indicated at 88 is an implement according to my invention having a detergent delivery arrangement therein. The arrangement .of FIGURE 13 includes a heating chamber 39 having a heating element 90 and a thermostat 91 therefor, the heating chamber being full of liquid detergent as indicated at 92. In the setup of FIGURE 13, the solution in the chamber 93 is of appropriate concentration for application to the mirror, rather than being in concentrated form, as is true with respect to the detergent solution in the conta ner 77 of FIGURE 12.

The container 93 is filled with liquid detergent up to the level 94, container 93 being enclosed except for compressed air intake pipe 95 and detergent delivery pipe 96. The detergent delivery pipe 96 communicates with the bottom of heating chamber 89. The delivery conduit 97 extends out of the top of heating chamber 89 and interconnects with the nipple 98 on the dental implement 83. With the arrangement shown in FIGURE 13, the application of compressed air through tube 5 increases the pressure on the liquid detergent Within the container 93 and thus forces detergent under pressure to how through the tube 96 and into the chamber 89.

The detergent in the chamber 39 is heated by the heater 99 prior to delivery through the tube 97. Since the body of detergent in the chamber 89 is relatively large as compared with the quantity of detergent used during a given detergent cleaning operation, it is possible to use a single control impulse to operate the entire supply device. Thus, for example, a foot-controlled valve (not shown) can conveniently control the input of compressed air through tube 95.

When the dentist wants to flow detergent across the mirror of the implement 88, he operates his foot control. This permits compressed air to apply pressure to the detergent in container 93 and thus to deliver detergent through the pipe 96 to the heating chamber 39. Since the heating chamber 89 is completely filled with detergent, this will result in the delivery through the tube 97 of a quantity of detergent from the top of the heating chamber 89 to the mirror of the implement 88.

It is here noted that it is of considerable advantage to provide for the heating of the detergent supplied to the mirror. In the first place, detergents tend to effect a more thorough cleansing action when they are used at an elevated temperature. More importantly, using a heated detergent results in a heating of the dental implement itself, and so long as such heating brings the temerature of the dental implement to a point above the body temperature of the patient, fogging of the mirror due to the patients breath Wfll not take place.

Since the invention involves the use of high volume and hi h velocity suction which draws a great quantity of air over the mirror and through the dental implement, the tendency of such a device is to run at a temperature somewhat cooler than would be the case if he suction were not used. It is, therefore, particularly important with the device according to the invention that the detergent supply be warmed so as to minimize fogging of the mirror due to the patients breath.

I have found that, when using high-speed drilling in a region of the patients mouth such that the mirror is neces sary, that is, when the work is actually conducted by means of a reflected image of a patients tooth, that it is desirable to squirt detergent onto the mirror quite frequently, for instance about every few seconds. In general I have found that the period between squirts should not be more than about thirty seconds to one minute. In other words, the mirror image becomes rather obscured by spray, tooth particles, etc. rather quickly unless it is cl aned by the application of detergent. When the detergent is heated according to the invention, the application at such intervals is sufficient to maintain the temperature of the implement above the body temperature of the patient and thus to prevent fogging of the mirror due to the patient's breath.

If the detergent in the reservoir is maintained at about 125 F., and if the detergent supply lines between the reservoir and the dental implement are kept at a minimum, the detergent is actually delivered to the mirror Within the patients mouth at a temperature of from about F. to about F. I have found that maintaining the dental implement at a temperature even as high as about 120 F. is quite comfortable for the patient. If the temperature is much above 120 F., for instance as high as F, a degree of discomfort exists, that is, the implement tends to feel hot to the patient. For this reason, I have found that the desirable temperature for the delivery of detergent is from about 100 F. up to about 120 F., the most preferable temperature being at about 115 F.

The high-volume, high-speed suction utilized is an important aspect of the invention. It is not sufficient to merely apply low-volume and low-speed suction of the kind normally used with an ordinary saliva ejector. Such suction will not effect the collection of air and miscellaneous solid and liquid foreign particles in the region of the patients mouth. An ordinary saliva ejector has to be immersed in liquid in order to effect any noticeable delivery whatever.

In contrast, the suction provided by the implement of the invention takes off such a large volume of air at such a high rate and in such a short period of time that all fluid and solid matter in the entire region of the patients mouth is constantly swept away and kept from inhallation by the patient or the dentist. The type of suction provided by the implement of the invention has heretofore been used by means of a device called an evacuator but such device is quite clumsy and inconvenient in operation since it requires that either a dentists assistant or the patient hold an intake member in the desired region.

In Table #1 are given the comparative data for an implement according to the invention providing high-vol- Vacuum pulled in inches of mercury Air fiow in cu. ft. per minute Air velocity in miles per hour. Pickup of solids- Effect on tissuc. Tendency to clot.

3 to 4 29.92. 5 to 30 Clogs easily.

In connection with the suction applied by the implement of the invention, it is mentioned that a suction of less than about 5 cu. ft. per minute is not suficient to effect a thorough purging of the patients mouth. On the other hand, while there is no real upper limit to the how that can be utilized, flows in excess of 35 or 36 cu. ft. per minute are not necessary. Indeed, the use of higher flows is undesirable because of the noise and size and expense of the suction equipment required. I have found that a preferred range of suction is from about to about cu. ft. per minute.

In general, it is desirable to use thin walled steel tubing for constructing the tubular handle members of the invention. The inside diameter or" such tubing is of considerable importance, that is, it is important to have the inside diameter as large as is conveniently possible so as to minimize the resistance to how through the handle.

The implement must be able to be readily handled by a dentist. I have found that tubular handles in excess of about /2" inside diameter tend to be too clumsy for easy manipulation during dental work. However, it is desirable to utilize a tube of the largest convenient size because the volume and velocity of the suction force which may be applied varies as the diameter of the tube to the 4th power.

Handles smaller than about /4" it). are too small to make possible an efiective and rapid suction take-off of the spray and other particles in a patients mouth. The preferred size of the tubular handle is from about /8 to about ID.

The cross sectional area of the bore of a tubular handle of A" inside diameter is about l of a square inch and that of a tubular handle of /2 inside diameter about /s of a square inch.

Also in connection with efiicient fiow through of fluids in the handle, it is important that the aperture opening onto the mirror surface be relatively large and that the fiow passage be entirely straight and unimpeded from the entrance to the aperture right on up the length of the handle.

It is desirable to have at least two apertures leading into the interior of the handle member at the mirror end because occluding one hole against a patients fiesh thereby does not result in uncomfortable suction being applied to the patient but merely in the increase of the inflow through the aperture which is not occluded.

I have found that it is desirable to have the total area of the apertures substantially equal to the cross-sectional area of the passage in the handle member. However, when the larger sizes of handle are used, that is, handles of about /2" I.D., it is not as important to have the aperture area equal the flow area through the handle as it is when the handle member is on the small side of the permissible range, that is about 1 ID.

It is here emphasized that by the use of the implement of the invention, it is possible to continuously apply high-volume, high-velocity suction to the work area during the entire time that work is being done on the patient.

It is pointed out that the implement of the invention makes possible work with one of the new types of highspeed drills in regions of the mouth not heretofore reachable by such high-speed drills. The distal surfaces of the upper first, second and third molars cannot be seen by a dentist without the use of a mirror. The balance of the upper teeth are more conveniently viewed with a mirror although it is possible for the dentist to directly observe them if the patient tilts his head unusually far back.

When using high-speed drills, it is always imperative to use a spray or jet of water directed at the exact point of drilling. Means for providing such a spray or jet of water is normally included in high-speed drill equipment.

Because of the fact that the spray or jet of water begins immediately upon turningthe high-speed drill on, it is considered a highly desirable dental practice to directly observe (without the use of a mirror image) all actual drilling being carried out with a high-speed drill. If it is attempted to operate a high-speed drill while observing the tooth structure being drilled in a mirror, the water spray quickly covers the mirror and obscures it to the point where the drilling operation cannot be accurately and continuously observed. To continue the application of a high-speed drill to a tooth under such conditions of 8 impaired vision is quite hazardous and can lead to unintentional damage to good tooth structure.

The implement of the invention makes possible the use of high-speed drilling equipment in all regions of the mouth, even the distal surfaces of the upper first, second and third molars because the implement of the invention provides, for the first time, a mirror which can be in stantaneously and repeatedly cleaned during the drilling operation and without the dentist taking his eye off the exact point at which the drill is cutting. This is accomplished by holding the high-speed drill head in one hand and the implement of the invention in the other hand and observing the spot to be drilled in the mirror of the implement. As soon as the spray and chips from the drilling operation strike the mirror, the dentist can, by the use of a foot pedal, provide for the cleaning of the mirror with a shot of detergent solution. When the detergent solution is relatively clear and flows across the mirror in a thin film, and'is actually in contact with the mirror for a very brief time, it is possible for the dentist to continuously observe the tooth drilling operation being performed, even through the detergent film.

Furthermore, it will be remembered that throughout the drilling operation the high-speed, high-volume suction of the invention is continuously collecting and rapidly sweeping all spray and foreign matter out of the patients mouth and thereby aiding the dentist to clearly observe the work being performed.

In this connection it is mentioned that evacuators known in the art are of little help in connection with the distal surfaces of the upper first, second and third molars. As mentioned above, such evacuators according to the prior art take the form of a separate intake piece held by the dentists assistant or the patient in the region of the work being performed. Such devices thus do not provide for cleaning the dentists mirror. The result is that the mirror becomes obscured and the drilling must stop within seconds after the drilling commences, notwithstanding the possibility that the evacuator, according to the prior art, is also in use.

It is here emphasized that, if the flow of detergent across the mirror surface is quite uniform and smooth and without appreciable ripples, the detergent solution can be continuously flowed over the mirror during the entire time that the implement is in use. In this connection it is noted that the application of a continuous stream of detergent is preferably done by means of an embodiment of the invention such as that shown in FEGURES 9 and 10 which includes a relatively long crescent shaped detergent entrance path so that the detergent flows across the surface of the mirror in the form of a wide fan or band practically coextensive with the full width of the mirror.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my prior application Serial No. 731,788, filed April 29, 1958.

I claim:

1. A dental mouth mirror construction comprising a suction source, a tube, means operatively connecting said suction source to the rear end of said tube, an angulated extension at the forward end of said tube, a mirror mounted on said extension, said forward end of said tube having an orifice opening on the rear end of said mirror, a conduit mounted in said tube passing through said extension and terminating in an orifice opening on the forward end or" said mirror opposite said first-named orifice and a valved source of detergent fluidoperatively connected to said conduit.

2. A dental mouth mirror construction comprising a tube having an angulated extension on one of its ends, a mirror mounted on said extension, a first orifice in said one end of said tube opening on said mirror, a second orifice in said extension opposed to said first orifice and opening on said mirror, means operatively connected to said tube applying suction to said first orifice and means operatively connected to said tube intermittently delivering detergent fluid to said second orifice.

3. A dental mouth mirror construction comprising a tube adapted to be connected to a suction source, an angulated extension on one end of said tube, a mirror mounted on said extension, said one end of said tube having a suction orifice opening on said mirror, and a conduit adapted to be connected to a valved detergent fluid source, said conduit extending through said tube and said extension and having a fluid delivery orifice opening on said mirror opposite said suction orifice.

4. The combination of claim 3 and further orifice in said extension communicative with said tube and opening beneath said mirror to prevent the tongue or cheek from being drawn into said suction orifice and to evacuate accumulated liquid and saliva from the floor of the mouth.

5. A dental mouth mirror comprising a rigid tube of optimum internal diameter; a mirror head attached at a suitable angle to one end of said rigid tube, said rigid tube thereby serving as a convenient handle for said mirror head; said rigid tube having an opening therein which is positioned adjacent to the mirror surface of said mirror head for applying high-air-volume, high-airvelocity evacuating suction to the mouth of a patient thereby causing a stream of rapidly moving air to be forced across said mirror surface and into said rigid tube; a source of high-air-volume, high-airvelocity evacuating suction operatively connected to said rigid tube; said rigid tube having Within its bore a second tube for conducting a controlled intermittent stream of detergent liquid, said second tube extending substantially throughout the length of said rigid tube and beneath said mirror and terminating near the surface of said mirror in a slit-like orifice which is opposed to said suction opening in said rigid tube, said slit-like orifice being so shaped that the emerging detergent liquid is expelled as a thin flat stream to traverse the entire mirror surface and be carried oif in said stream of rapidly moving air; and a source of detergent solution operatively connected to said second tube.

6. The dental mirror of claim 5 wherein means are operatively connected with said second tube for controlling the fiow of said detergent solution.

7. A dental mouth mirror construction comprising a tube adapted to be connected to a source of suction and having a suction-intake orifice formed therein; an angulated extension on one end of said tube; a mirror so mounted on said extension that said suction-intake orifice opens thereon; and a conduit adapted to be connected to a valved liquid detergent source, said conduit extending through said tube and said extension and having a liquid delivery orifice opening on said mirror opposite said suction-intake orifice, said liquid delivery opening being so shaped as to deliver the liquid in a fan-shaped stream across said mirror.

8. A dental mouth mirror construction comprising a tube adapted to be connected to a suction source at one of its ends and terminating in a suction-intake orifice at its other end; an angulated extension on one end of said tube; a mirror so mounted on said extension that said suction-intake orifice opens thereon; and a conduit adapted to be connected to a valved detergent liquid source, said conduit extending through said tube and said extension and having a liquid delivery orifice opening on said mirror opposite said suction orifice.

9. A dental mouth mirror construction comprising a tube adapted to be connected to a source of high-airvolume, high-air-velocity evacuation at one of its ends and terminating in a suction-intake orifice at its other end; an angulated extension on one end of said tube; amirror so mounted on said extension that said suction-intake orifice opens thereon; and a conduit adapted to be connected to a valved liquid detergent source, said conduit extending through said tube and said extension and having a liquid detergent delivery orifice opening on said mirror opposite said evacuation orifice.

10. A dental implement comprising a tubular handle member and a mirror mounted on an end thereof, the mirror end of the assembly being adapted for insertion into the mouth of a patient, air-flow means operatively connected with the free end of the handle member, an aperture in the handle member adjacent the surface of the mirror, said air-flow means eflecting, during treatment of a patient, a continuous high volume and high velocity flow of air and entrained liquid and solid particles in through said aperture and through the handle member, whereby air and entrained liquid and solid particles are continuously collected and removed from the patients mouth, a source of fluid detergent and delivery means therefor secured to the implement in position to deliver fluid detergent to the surface of the mirror.

11. A dental implement according to claim 10 in which the means for delivering fluid detergent is positioned to deliver said detergent to the mirror surface in a region remote from said aperture in the handle member.

12. A construction according to claim 11 in which the mirror is mounted in a frame member, the frame memher being of a size slightly larger than the size of a. mirror and the mirror being mounted in said frame member toward one side thereof, whereby to provide a crack between the frame member and the mirror around a portion of the periphery of the mirror, though which crack detergent fluid may flow onto the surface of the mirror.

'13. A construction according to claim 10 and further including heating means operatively associated with the source of fluid detergent for heating the fluid detergent supplied to the mirror.

14. A construction according to claim 10 in which the source of fluid detergent includes supply means for supplying fluid detergent to the delivery means, said supply means comprising reservoir means for fluid detergent and conduit means interconnecting the reservoir means and the delivery means, the construction further including a control device adapted upon actuation to apply pressure to the fluid detergent in the reservoir means and thereby deliver fluid detergent under pressure to surface of the mirror.

15. A construction according to claim 14 in which the reservoir means includes a heating chamber having a heating device and a thermostat therefor, the heating device and thermostat being adapted to maintain the detergent in the heating chamber at a desired predetermined temperature.

16. A dental implement comprising a tubular handle member and a mirror, spring clip means associated with the handle member and holding the mirror in position on an end thereof but permitting manual removal of the mirror therefrom, the mirror end of the assembly being adapted for insertion into the mouth of a patient, air-flow means operatively connected with the free end of the handle member, and aperture means in the handle member including at least one aperture adjacent the surface of the mirror, the combined flow area of said aperture means being substantially equal to the flow area through said tubular handle member, said air-flow means eifecting, during treatment of a patient, continuous high-volume flow in through said aperture means and through the handle member, whereby air and entrained liquid and solid particles are continuously removed from the patients mouth.

References (Zited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,660,870 Post Feb. 28, 1928 1,764,455 Kulik 111116 17, 1930 1,925,981 Hopkins Sept. 5, 1933 2,784,717 Thompson Mar. 12, 1957 2,864,166 Shaw Dec. 16, 1958 3,012,323 Thompson Dec. 12, 196-1 

1. A DENTAL MOUTH MIRROR CONSTRUCTION COMPRISING A SUCTION SOURCE, A TUBE, MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTING SAID SUCTION SOURCE TO THE REAR END OF SAID TUBE, AN ANGULATED EXTENSION AT THE FORWARD END OF SAID TUBE, A MIRROR MOUNTED ON SAID EXTENSION, SAID FORWARD END OF SAID TUBE HAVING AN ORIFICE OPENING ON THE REAR END OF SAID MIRROR, A CONDUIT MOUNTED IN SAID TUBE PASSING THROUGH SAID EXTENSION AND TERMINATING IN AN ORIFICE OPENING ON THE FORWARD END OF SAID MIRROR OPPOSITE SAID FIRST-NAMED ORIFICE AND A VALVED SOURCE OF DETERGENT FLUID OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID CONDUIT. 